The Age of the Child

Book excerpt: It's the worst possible time in the nation's history of reproductive legislation for someone like Katherine, who doesn't want a child, to learn she's pregnant. The ratification of the pro-creation Citizen Amendment has not only criminalized the birth control that could have prevented Katherine's accidental pregnancy, but abortion and most miscarriages are illegal, too. In this environment, not having a child will be a challenge. Katherine isn't afraid of a challenge. Twenty-nine years later, it's probably the worst possible time in the nation's history of reproductive legislation for Millie--well, for someone like Millie--to decide rather suddenly that she wants to be pregnant. Since the recent implementation of parent licensing and the founding of the Federal Parent Licensing Bureau, getting pregnant requires government approval, and even attempting to cheat the system carries a sentence of imprisonment in a mysterious facility known as Exile. In this environment, a pregnancy for someone like Millie is all but impossible. Millie doesn't believe in "impossible."